What’s the difference between a virus and bacteria

Viruses and bacteria are both very small organisms, but they are very different in structure and the way they cause illness. Bacteria are single-celled organisms that can live, grow and reproduce independently. They have a cell wall and other structures, such as a capsule, which allow them to survive in many environments. Viruses, however, are much different. Viruses are not considered living organisms because they cannot reproduce on their own. Instead, they must use the cells of other organisms to replicate and spread. Bacteria can cause illnesses such as strep throat, urinary tract infections, and food poisoning. On the other hand, viruses cause illnesses such as the common cold, influenza, and chickenpox. Bacteria can be treated with antibiotics, but viruses cannot. Antibiotics are medicines that kill bacteria, but they cannot kill viruses. An analogy that can help you better understand the difference between viruses and bacteria is that of a thief and a burglar. A thief steals something from you, but a burglar actually breaks into your house and takes something from you. In the same way, a virus steals genetic material from a cell, while a bacteria actually breaks into the cell and takes genetic material from it. Fun Fact: Viruses are not visible to the human eye, while most bacteria are. The smallest bacteria are about 0.3 to 0.5 microns in diameter, while most viruses range between 20 to 400 nanometers in size.